Paul, Community, and Discipline: Establishing Boundaries and Dealing with the Disorderly

Over the course of several years, Paul established numerous Christian communities in cities throughout the Roman Empire. Each of these small groups was founded on the premise of inclusivity, mutual love, and shared concern for other members. But what happened when these core tenets were challenged or undermined? In Paul, Community, and Discipline: Establishing Boundaries and Dealing with the Disorderly, Adam G. White begins by examining the practice of exile and expulsion in the cities of the Graeco-Roman world as well as in the specific social institutions of the family, school, association, and synagogue. He then examines the Pauline letters in light of this context, arguing that what we see in Paul’s communities is both a continuation of as well as a divergence from contemporary practices.